Sega’s Football Manager opens-up to advertising

via mad.co.uk

Sega’s upcoming online version of its gaming series Football Manager is set to offer a wide range of advertising opportunities when it launches this summer after securing an exclusive deal with IGA Worldwide today.

Sega Europe, in conjunction with Sports Interactive, is launching its Massively Multiplayer Online version of Football Manager Live with a range of advertising opportunities said to be in-keeping with those experienced at a real football match; league and tournament sponsorship, pitch-side billboards, web-based MPU’s and a number of static integrations.

IGA will also be using its proprietary Radial technology to dynamically link ad spaces between the Football Manager Live game client and the corresponding locations on the football manager live web portal. This service will allow advertisers extended coverage with the opportunity for video and rich media content within the web-based MPU spaces.

Justin Townsend, chief executive of IGA Worldwide, said: “The Football Manager series boasts three of the top five fastest selling PC games in history and we are extremely enthusiastic about partnering with Sports Interactive and Sega on these world-leading titles leading into the Euro 2008 series this summer.

“The unique opportunities available to our clients in these titles offer unrivalled exposure, engagement and accountability whilst adding realism and context to a game environment that prides itself on these same qualities.”

Advertising in sports games does create a more realistic environment but it should stay the hell away from RPGs.

If adverts are incorporated with different genres of games they should at least make sense where they are being placed and not distract the gamer from the game.